Broke down and bought the Bridge and Teleporter Playsets for $23.99 each, for a grand total of $50.86. Still $10 more than I wanted to.
The only reason I did is because the playsets haven't appeared in any Wal-Marts in my area.
Have they for anyone else?
If so, how much were they there?
I'm assuming you know Playmates held the license before DST did, right? And they had it for a good long run, as I remember. Of course, there was no DST then to do what they do, but that not withstanding, Playmates has quite the history with the franchise. I'm inclined to trust that they know what they're doing, even though I don't necessarily like it. I had just about every fig they put out, and that was quite a setup! As for their ships, I'd almost say they were the precursor of DST, or at least they used them as templates. Don't be too quick to dismiss them.
Owning practically every Playmates TNG action figure, many of the DS9 figures, the Enterprise bridge, Enterprise Engineering, the Galileo shuttle, a DS9 runabout, and others, I'm fully aware that Playmates had the Star Trek license for a long time. But that was a different era, an era when Trek was still pretty big, and at least one, if not two, TV shows were airing new episodes every week.
I think it is easy to look down on Playmates, because they just haven't shown much recently. As far as I know, the major licenses they have right now are TMNT, Trek, and Terminator (the last two only as of this year). In an age when the big toy companies like Hasbro and Mattel are gobbling up licenses left and right, and the smaller, more specialty companies like NECA and DST are providing some really quality product, I think Playmates is in trouble. This year they're relying on two big movie licenses, both of which are PG-13 rated, to sell toys. Now, I could maybe overlook this if the toys were at least collector-friendly, to satisfy that small portion of the market, but they aren't. I'm a fan of both Trek and Terminator, but the poor effort by Playmates has really turned me off these lines. I'm 99% sure I won't get anything Terminator unless I find it on the supercheap, and there is little that I'm interested in the Trek line despite the fact that I'm really, really trying to find some quality product to buy (I'm excited about the new Trek movie, I think it'll be great).
Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd be willing to bet good money that Playmates won't survive the next couple years.
For those sticklers for details though I'm sure the model companies will end up coming out with one, though that requires you having to put it together with glue and stuff which I was never very good at.
I don't know how long Playmates has the license, probably as long as they want it and will probably hold onto it as long as they keep making Star Trek movies. I have a high level of confidence this first movie will do well enough to warrent a sequal which if so I don't see Playmates giving the license up any time soon.
I picked up the new ship yesterday on sale. I don't think it looks bad, and think at the sale price its a nice buy. It did surprise me that it seemed smaller than like Playmates original series NCC 1701 release but I haven't dug it out to actually compare. The DST ones which dont get me wrong are nice but cost in the neighborhood of $50+ and made for adult collectors. This is on sale $23 and made for kids so comparing the detail between the two is kinda like comparing apples and oranges.
The point of holding license to a property is exclusivity. No one else besides Playmates can make toys based on the New Trek. It would matter what, specifically, the license was for though. In this case, DST has already said they have no rights to produce anything New Trek related. But that doesn't mean forever. When the term expires, DST may get the rights by default, as they already do the rest of the STs. That's when you might get your ship.Yeah, I understand the exclusivity part of it.
However, I would assume that Playmates doesn't have a long license (maybe only a year or so), considering the likelihood that the line won't have a long shelf-life. Let's face it, this stuff could be off most shelves by the fall if it doesn't sell well. Not to mention, movie toy lines don't seem to have the longevity of non-movie lines. Add in the fact that this is more of an "adult" movie, and I don't see Playmates even wanting to hold the license very long, much less renew it after their license is up.
Regardless, I'm sure that someone will pick up the New Trek license when Playmates' license expires, and I certainly hope it will be DST.
I'm assuming you know Playmates held the license before DST did, right? And they had it for a good long run, as I remember. Of course, there was no DST then to do what they do, but that not withstanding, Playmates has quite the history with the franchise. I'm inclined to trust that they know what they're doing, even though I don't necessarily like it. I had just about every fig they put out, and that was quite a setup! As for their ships, I'd almost say they were the precursor of DST, or at least they used them as templates. Don't be too quick to dismiss them.
The point of holding license to a property is exclusivity. No one else besides Playmates can make toys based on the New Trek. It would matter what, specifically, the license was for though. In this case, DST has already said they have no rights to produce anything New Trek related. But that doesn't mean forever. When the term expires, DST may get the rights by default, as they already do the rest of the STs. That's when you might get your ship.
Yeah, I understand the exclusivity part of it.
However, I would assume that Playmates doesn't have a long license (maybe only a year or so), considering the likelihood that the line won't have a long shelf-life. Let's face it, this stuff could be off most shelves by the fall if it doesn't sell well. Not to mention, movie toy lines don't seem to have the longevity of non-movie lines. Add in the fact that this is more of an "adult" movie, and I don't see Playmates even wanting to hold the license very long, much less renew it after their license is up.
Regardless, I'm sure that someone will pick up the New Trek license when Playmates' license expires, and I certainly hope it will be DST.
Just to be clear. DST does not have the license to make any merchandise based on these new movies.There's got to be someone else that will make an electronic version of the Enterprise from the new movie though, right? I mean, maybe not soon, but in a year? I like the look of the ship, but I'm just not sold on the Playmates version. From the pictures on the box, it looks too "kiddy." Definitely not as nice as the Playmates Enterprise D or Klingon Battle Cruiser that I got as a kid back in the early 90s (or at least not as good as it should be compared to how good those were despite being made 15+ years ago).
Here's a negative review of it, just helps confirm my lack of interest in it: (link)
It seems completely overpriced when comparing it to the Diamond Select Enterprise D due for release soon.
The point of holding license to a property is exclusivity. No one else besides Playmates can make toys based on the New Trek. It would matter what, specifically, the license was for though. In this case, DST has already said they have no rights to produce anything New Trek related. But that doesn't mean forever. When the term expires, DST may get the rights by default, as they already do the rest of the STs. That's when you might get your ship.
And the first thing I noticed when I picked that thing up was how frickin' light it was. That told me right there I wanted nothing to do with it.
Just to be clear. DST does not have the license to make any merchandise based on these new movies.
There's got to be someone else that will make an electronic version of the Enterprise from the new movie though, right? I mean, maybe not soon, but in a year? I like the look of the ship, but I'm just not sold on the Playmates version. From the pictures on the box, it looks too "kiddy." Definitely not as nice as the Playmates Enterprise D or Klingon Battle Cruiser that I got as a kid back in the early 90s (or at least not as good as it should be compared to how good those were despite being made 15+ years ago).
Here's a negative review of it, just helps confirm my lack of interest in it: (link)
It seems completely overpriced when comparing it to the Diamond Select Enterprise D due for release soon.
I stopped in at TRU today. Looked a lot, but didn't buy anything Star Trek-related.Decided the electronic ship doesn't look detailed enough for me. I'm sure Diamond Select or someone else will make a better one, so I'll just wait.
Saw the Mattel Hot Wheels Enterprise D. It looked great, but I wasn't willing to fork over $15 for it. I'll wait 'til I find it at Target for $13.
Examined the 4" figs. Just. Not. Good. (with the low price and extra bridge pieces, if these had been decent figs, I'd be collecting all of them, but they aren't)
Stared and stared at the 12" figs, but didn't buy one. I'm not usually a 1/6 scale collector, so I don't know what I'm gonna do. Undoubtedly, these are the best Star Trek figs from the movie line, and they do look good. I'll probably convince myself to pick up one or two of them by the end of the week.
Just to be clear. DST does not have the license to make any merchandise based on these new movies.
I stopped in at TRU today. Looked a lot, but didn't buy anything Star Trek-related.
Decided the electronic ship doesn't look detailed enough for me. I'm sure Diamond Select or someone else will make a better one, so I'll just wait.
Saw the Mattel Hot Wheels Enterprise D. It looked great, but I wasn't willing to fork over $15 for it. I'll wait 'til I find it at Target for $13.
Examined the 4" figs. Just. Not. Good. (with the low price and extra bridge pieces, if these had been decent figs, I'd be collecting all of them, but they aren't)
Stared and stared at the 12" figs, but didn't buy one. I'm not usually a 1/6 scale collector, so I don't know what I'm gonna do. Undoubtedly, these are the best Star Trek figs from the movie line, and they do look good. I'll probably convince myself to pick up one or two of them by the end of the week.
